JJ found himself lying in the hammock outside while Big John and Adilynne were playing in the kitchen. Taking a hit of his juul he looked over hearing the van pull up with his friends. Hearing them approaching where he lay JJ chose to ignore them as they settled around him on various lawn chairs, "Hey, man you missed some sick waves," John B commented. "Yeah, why'd you run off?" Pope questioned. "And where's Adilynne? Did you already ditch her?" Kie asked harshly. "Kie," John B hissed.
Taking another hit of his juul JJ slowly sat up, "Nah, man it's okay. You guys can think whatever you want. I don't give a fuck," JJ told them stalking away and back into the house. "What the hell, Kie, you were supposed to apologize," Pope hissed before the three followed behind their angry friend into the house. Catching up to JJ the three entered the house a few steps behind only to stop dead in the living room as Adilynne came laughing around the corner from the kitchen, "JJ, you've gotta try these," she told him holding up a plate, "Oh, hey guys," she smiled at the three standing in the doorway, "We made deviled eggs," she told them holding the plate out to them after JJ had taken two.
Grinning with his mouth full of egg JJ swallowed, "Addie's been here helping Big John with dinner," he told them, looking directly at Kiara. Sensing tension again Adilynne looked between the four friends, "What," she began to ask before being cut off by Big John coming out of the kitchen holding a platter of ribs. "Great. Perfect timing," he said handing an empty plate to JJ, "Go get the chicken off the grill," he told him, "And you three grab the stuff in the kitchen and bring it out. Let's eat," he told them walking out the door to the picnic table.
Watching as JJ followed after the older man and the other two boys ran to the kitchen Adilynne held her hand out when Kiara went to walk past her, "That's the second time today I've caught something going on. If you don't want me here just say it to my face," Adilynne told the girl. Blinking Kiara shook her head, "It's not that we don't want you here, it's that we do," Kiara responded.
Confused Adilynne asked her what the hell she meant. Glancing towards the kitchen where she could hear John B and Pope gushing over the amount of food Kiara sighed, "Look JJ is a player and I don't want him messing with your head because I want to be friends with you. I just know how this ends with you pissed off cuz he's a pig and we miss out on getting to be friends," Kiara attempted to explain.
Hearing that the brunette wanted to be friends, Adilynne set the plate down before hugging her, "Thank you for the concern and for wanting to be my friend," Adilynne told her, "You don't need to worry though. JJ and I are on the same page," she assured her.
Walking outside with her plate of eggs and the other three behind her carrying dishes of food Adilynne smiled at JJ who was carrying a large platter of chicken to the picnic table. Catching her eye he winked playfully at her. Once everything was set out Big John told them to dig in. Passing the food around they began piling their plates full. "Hold up. What the fuck did you all do to the shrimp and grits?" JJ questioned looking at the plate he held.
Snorting Adilynne told him to trust her. Glancing between the girl sitting beside him and the bowl he held JJ shook his head, "Addie, baby, there are just some things you don't mess with and a man's shrimp and grits is one of them," he told her seriously. Rolling her eyes Adilynne spooned a pile of shrimp and grits out of the bowl and plopped it onto his plate, "JJ, baby, just trust me," she told him before turning back to her own plate.
From the corner of her eye Adilynne watched JJ take a bite of the shrimp and grits waiting for his reaction. Seeing him take a bigger bite she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. When he let his fork clatter to the plate and turned to look at her she simply looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I take it back," he claimed, grabbing her hand, "In fact let's get married and you can make this every night," he told her grinning. Laughing, along with the others, Adilynne told the boy he was ridiculous. "You know you love me," he laughed, winking at her. "We'll see," she told him, quietly smiling before they turned back to their dinner.
The next hour was spent talking, eating, and laughing amongst themselves. Towards the end of the meal Adilynne and Big John were discussing his time off island, "So you're gone from Tuesday evening until Saturday morning?" she asked. "Yep I'm a professor at chapel hill and have classes Wednesday through Friday. Once John was old enough to stay for a few days by himself I found it easier on everyone to stay in my office rather than commute back and forth. Cheaper too," he told her, laughing.
"And it works for you guys?" she questioned again, "I'm sorry to be asking but my mother works off island and she'll be leaving Sunday evenings and returning Wednesday night. I've never been alone that long because my dad was always here so I'm just nervous," she explained. "I have to say it's nice at first but then it can get lonely," John B told her, "Luckily I have the Pogues to keep me company," he said motioning to his friends. "Darling, if you'd like I can speak to your mother let her know you're welcome here if it becomes too much," Big John told her.
Blinking at the kind gesture Adilynne smiled, "Thank you that's really kind of you." Smiling at the girl Big John nodded, "Of course. I went to high school with your parents and god knows how many times your dad looked out for these four," he said motioning yet again to the Pogues, "It's the least I can do if it eases your mind," he assured her, "Now you three get to cleaning up," he said, pointing to John B, Pope, and Kie, "I've got papers to grade and lesson plans to make," he told them as he stood up to head inside.
"What? How come they get out of cleanup?" John B complained. "They helped make it. Cooks don't clean where I'm from," Big John called over his shoulder. Laughing JJ grabbed Adilynne's hand pulling her up, "Later losers," he laughed, sticking his tongue out at them. "JJ, that wasn't nice," Adilynne laughed as she let him lead her to the hammock hanging from the trees, "Especially since you were laying out here most of the time," she said, looking down at the boy as he laid back in the hammock. "I took the chicken off the grill," he reminded her, as he held his arms out to her.
Rolling her eyes Adilynne carefully laid next to him laying her head on his shoulder, "How could I forget the hard work it took to pull some chicken off the grill," she said sarcastically. "It was hard work," he told her, pouting, "Look at my finger I burnt," he said holding out his pointer finger. Grabbing his hand she kissed his finger, "There all better," she told him, keeping their hands entwined as they laid together. "So Kiara's afraid you're going to break my heart," Adilynne declared fiddling with his bracelets. "Did she actually say something to you?" he asked, angrily.
"Well I picked up some tension earlier on the beach. I mean I've heard you're one of the best surfers on Kildaire and all of a sudden you don't want to surf? Yeah ok and then earlier in the house there was something going on too. I just figured they didn't want me around so I asked her what the problem was and she told me," she explained. "What did you tell her?" he asked. "I told her we were on the same page, but I didn't really tell her what that page was. It's none of their business," she told him, "It's no one's business but our own."
"You know if you get lonely when your mom's away I'm all for a slumber party," JJ commented. Scoffing Adilynne rolled her eyes, "I'm sure you are." Squeezing her hand JJ looked down at her, "No, I'm serious." Looking up at him Adilynne noticed how serious he looked, "Okay," she said, before remembering something she'd seen in her phone, "I mean I'm going to need your number then," she told him pulling her phone out of her back pocket, "Unless this new contact of 'Hot Stuff' is you," she laughed holding up her phone.
Smiling widely JJ laughed as she put her phone back, "I've been meaning to ask how you even knew my birthday?" she questioned. "Your dad had a calendar. I saw it one time," he answered, simply. Sighing Adilynne eyed him, "Exactly how many times were you hauled into the station?" she asked. "Ehhhh, we don't need to get into that," he answered.
"Which basically means to many to count," John B voiced as the other three joined them sitting down in the lawn chairs around the hammock. "I'm beginning to realize that," Adilynne smiled, patting JJ's chest as she carefully turned over so she was facing the others, "So are you guys still leaping off cliffs tomorrow?" she asked. "Yes, you're still coming, right?" Kie questioned. "As long as I'm still invited," Adilynne answered. "Of course," Kie told her quickly, "One thing though don't wear a bikini or if you do wear a t-shirt over it," she suggested.
Hearing JJ snort from behind her she felt him laughing, "You remember that time when Paige Morrison jumped and lost her top as soon as she hit the water?" "Best day ever," John B exclaimed. "Especially since she didn't realize it was gone until she'd resurfaced," Pope laughed. "That is so horrible that you're laughing at some girl's embarrassment," Adilynne chastised. "Oh, no. The girl's a total bitch," Kie told her, "The night before it happened she dumped her beer on John B just because he didn't want to screw her at some party," she informed her. Thinking that over Adilynne shrugged, "Well now I'd say karma's a bitch," smiling while the others laughed.
"Hey, not sure if you can feel it but your ass is vibrating," JJ muttered against the back of her neck, as he pulled her phone out of her back pocket and handed it over her shoulder. Rolling to her back Adilynne smirked over at him, "You know you liked it," she whispered. Humming JJ tugged on a strand of her hair, "Maybe, a little," he admitted. Smiling Adilynne checked her phone to see a message from Sarah. Swearing Adilynne read the text, "Shit, Sarah's having a meltdown that I haven't called or texted her since my disappearing act at lunch," she said, sending a quick text to one of her oldest friends.
"You know I've always wondered how you're friends with her," Kie commented, "She always seems to have a stick up her butt." Clicking her tongue Adilynne looked over, "That's not very nice, and a lot of people say the same thing about me. We're not always who we pretend to be." "Who says that about you?" JJ asked. Looking at the boy laying next to her Adilynne scoffed, "The entire school. Just because I don't go to parties, get black out drunk every weekend, or screw every available dick they think I'm some stuck up prude. I'm sure Kiara's heard people saying shit about me," she told him, looking back over at the curly haired girl biting her bottom lip.
"I mean of course I've heard things but I don't judge people by what others say. Plus you're like one of the most popular girls in school so no one would ever say it to your face," Kie told her, shrugging. "Because saying I'm a frigid ice queen behind their hands is so much more acceptable," Adilynne said, sarcastically. "Hey, why don't you invite Sarah along tomorrow?" John B spoke up, "Give her a chance to show us the real Sarah just like we're getting to see the real Adilynne," he commented. "I mean I can ask her," Adilynne responded, picking up her phone to text Sarah.
After sending the text Adilynne glanced at JJ, "Guaranteed she calls me," she whispered, "And there it is," she said when her phone started buzzing with a call. Sighing, she rolled out of the hammock and walked towards the picnic table while answering the phone, "Hello sunshine," she answered. "Adilynne? You're going cliff jumping?" Sarah questioned without acknowledging Adilynne's greeting. "Yes, Sarah, and I would love for you to come with. I know you've done it before," Adilynne answered. "Me doing it before isn't what I'm questioning," Sarah responded. Sighing Adilynne sat on the picnic table, "Then what are you questioning?"
"I'm questioning your sanity," Sarah replied, "Look the last few weeks you haven't been yourself. You're drinking, staying out all night, and now you're going to cliff dive. I'm just worried, Adilynne," Sarah said, quietly. Closing her eyes Adilynne took a deep breath, "Sarah there's no need to worry. I'm just living my life. I think it's about time I do," Adilynne told her, "And if you're worried then come tomorrow. You'll see there's nothing to worry about." Hearing Sarah sigh on the other end she smiled when the girl agreed to come. "Great, they're picking me up at noon tomorrow so why don't you come over for breakfast?" Adilynne invited. After Sarah agreed the girls hung up.
"Everything okay?" asked JJ from behind her. Looking over her shoulder Adilynne nodded, "She agreed to come tomorrow," she responded. "She doesn't like us much does she?" he questioned sitting next to her on the table. Sighing Adilynne chewed on the inside of her cheek before answering, "She says she's worried about me because I'm doing things I've never done." "What's your thought on that?" he questioned. Humming Adilynne shrugged, "Did you know there are five stages of grief? Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. I'm on anger so maybe I'm doing things that had my dad known I was doing them it would piss him off because I'm angry at him," she surmised.
"Makes sense," JJ acknowledged, "You know I'm usually pretty good at getting into trouble so just stick with me baby," he told her, throwing his arm over her shoulder before kissing her temple. Wrapping her arm around his waist Adilynne leaned her head on his shoulder, "I don't want to be a delinquent, now," she told him laughing, "I just want to enjoy life. It's too short to spend it not experiencing everything you can," she said.